Koh Phangan Travel Guide - Getting
to koh Phangan
 Boat
Services to Ko Pha-ngan 
(Schedules and fares mentioned here are subject to change
without notice. Please contact boat companies or TAT offices
in Surat Thani and Ko Samui for current information.)
Don
Sak - Ko Pha-ngan
Racha Ferry operates ferry services from Don Sak pier (40
kilometres from Surat Thani town) to Ko Pha-ngan daily at
10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. It takes 2.30 hours for the journey.
One-way fare is 180 baht. Bus services from Surat Thani
town or Surat Thani Railway Station to Don Sak are available.
Surat
Thani-Ko Pha-ngan
Songserm Rungrueang Co. Ltd operates express boat services.
The boats depart from Lamphun pier (10 kilometres from Surat
Thani) to Ko Pha-ngan daily at 8 a.m. It takes 3 hours for
the journey. One-way fare is 205 baht. Bus services to the
pier are available.
Visitors can obtain more information from the following
offices of Songserm Rungrueang Co. Ltd: Bangkok office Tel:
0-2280-7897, Surat Thani Office Tel: 0-7728-5124-6, Ko Samui
office Tel: 0 -7742-1316-9, 0-7742-0163, Ko Pha-ngan office
Tel: 0-7737 -7096.
A nighttime boat departs from Surat Thani’s Ban Don
pier to Ko Pha-ngan daily at 11 p.m. It takes 6 hours for
the journey. One-way fares are 150 baht and 200 baht.
Ko
Samui - Ko Pha-ngan
Songserm Rungrueang Co. Ltd’s express boats depart
from Ko Samui’s Na Thon pier 3 times daily at 9 a.m.,
11 a.m. and 5 p.m. It takes 45 minutes for the journey.
One-way fare is 115 baht.
A catamaran leaves Ko Samui’s Mae Nam pier at 8 a.m.
and arrives at Ko Pha-ngan at 8.40 a.m. One-way fare is
250 baht.
Ordinary boats leave Ko Samui’s Phra Yai pier at
10.30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and proceed to Ko Pha-ngan’s
Rin Nai beach. It takes 50 minutes for the journey. One-way
fare is 100 baht
Another ordinary boat leaves Ko Samui’s Mae Nam pier
at 9.30 a.m. and arrives at Ko Pha-ngan at 10.30 a.m. One-way
fare is 115 baht.
Getting around Koh
Phangan:
 Koh
Tae Nai
A charming island with jungle-covered hills, a long stretch
of golden sandy beach and colorful coral reefs, Koh Tae
Nai is located near Koh Phangan, and can be reached just
5 minutes by chartered boats. Accommodations are available
but are mostly middle to top-end.
Koh
Tao
A small isolated island situated 45 kilometers to the north
of Koh Phangan; Ko Tao was once used as a prison for instigators
of the Bavordet coup d'etat. The island is famous for its
rich sea coral reefs and inhabitants and secluded beaches
set in a laid-back atmosphere. Ideal for snorkeling and
diving, there are numerous diving schools scattered around
the island that have always attracted diving students. With
exceptional underwater visibility, Koh Tao is one of Thailand’s
finest offshore diving spots with main attractions such
as White Rock, Shark Island, Chumphon Pinnacle, Green Rock,
Sail Rock and Southwest Pinnacles. The stunning viewing
point is a spot where visitors can see three connecting
beaches stretching beautifully to the horizon. Apart from
Koh Phangan, Koh Tao can be reached either from Surat Thani
or Chumphon Provinces. Accommodations in the form of bungalows,
at various price ranges, are available. The best time to
visit Koh Tao is from February to April. Traveling on the
island is possible by boat, car or motorcycle.
Wat
Khao Tham
Located on the hilltop of Khao Kao Haeng, Moo 1, Bang Tai
Sub-district, the monastery is ideal for meditation amidst
the unspoiled nature. Foreigners mostly visit the compound
to learn how to practice meditation between September and
November. To reach the monastery, take a chartered car or
rent a motorcycle at Thong Sala Pier and drive for approximately
3 kilometers. From the entrance of the temple, drive approximately
1 kilometre up to the compound.
Wat
Maduea Wan
Apart from beaches, sand and sea, Koh Phangan also has cultural
attractions such as Wat Maduea Wan, located at Moo 3, where
the replica of the Lord Buddha’s Footprint is enshrined
on the hilltop Mondop. To reach the temple, take a Songthaew
from for a total distance of approximately 3 kilometers
for a fare of 20 Baht per trip per person.
Note: The prices for transportation may
change from time to time according to the changes on the
cost of living on the island.
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